The Sufis trembled: "Open, open wide, Dismiss us to illuminate the East." Old Ghaffír fumbled the reluctant bolts, Lifting his hands and eyes as for a feast. And this was their viaticum. His words Were mingled with their eagerness like yeast: Go forth, poor words! If truly you are free, Simple, direct, you shall be winged like birds, Voiced like the sea. Walk humbly clad! Be sure those words are lame That ride a-clatter, or that deck and pad A puny frame. As in your dress, So in your speech be plain! Be not deceived; the Mighty Meaningless Are loud in vain. Be not puffed up, Nor drunk with your own sound! Shall men drink deeply when an empty cup Is handed round? Shout not at heaven! Say what I bade you say. Simplicity is beauty dwelling even In yea or nay. Be this your goal. Beauty within man's reach Is poetry. You cannot touch man's soul Save with man's speech. Therefore go straight. You shall not turn aside To vain display; for yonder lies the gate Where gods abide Your coming. Go! The way was never hard. What would you more than common flowers or snow? For your reward, Be understood, And thus shall you be sung. Aye, you who think to show us any good, Speak in our tongue. III THE DEPTH OF THE NIGHT The watchman finished, as the southern gate Clanged, and the breathless city lay behind. The Dreamer's shadows shrank against the wall, As though the desert called and none replied, Till the young pilot, standing out to night, Swung clear these lines to sound the depths of her: "Blue Persian night, Soft, voiceless as the summer sea! Flooding the bouldered desert sand, submerge This cypressed isle And Demavend's snow-spire--a sunken rock On your hushed floor, where I the diver stand Beyond the reach of day. And though, up through your overwhelming peace, I see your surface, heaven, I would not rise there, being drowned in you, Blue Persian night. "Blue Persian night, O consolation of the East! In your clear breathless oceanic sheen My heart's an isle, From whose innumerable caves and coigns-- When dusk awakes the city of my mind-- Exploring boats set forth, Bound for the harbour-lights of God knows where, Full, full of God knows what; It must be love of Him, or Her, or You, Blue Persian night."